Cover for sports equipment

ABSTRACT

A sports equipment cover includes an elongated housing for storing a piece of sports equipment. Such housing is manufactured from a predetermined material and has a predetermined size and a predetermined shape. Such housing has an opening at a predetermined location thereon for permitting insertion and removal of such piece of sports equipment. A fastening mechanism is operably connected to such housing at a predetermined location thereon adjacent to such opening for removably securing such opening in a closed position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/914,519 filed Apr. 8, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to sports equipment coversand, more particularly, this invention relates to golf club covers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, sportsequipment such as golf clubs, as are generally well known in the priorart, have been used for playing sports, for the enjoyment of a user andduring competitions. On occasion, inclement weather such as raininterferes with the use of such sports equipment.

Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following:Bright, U.S. Pat. No. 1,886,464 discloses an individual case for a golfclub for protecting a golf club from scratches during travel. In orderto view the golf club, the case may be opened.

Clark, U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,987 provides a golf club protection systemwhich includes a plurality of hollow tubes with head covers for holdinggolf clubs.

Sung, U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,624 provides a golf club protector thatincludes a rigid tube sized to house the shaft section of an individualgolf club, and a flexible hollow cover attached to the upper end of thetube to surround the hitting head of the club. An elongated slot-likeopening is formed in the cover to permit the club to be moved into orout of the protector.

Moore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,395 provides a golf club protector in theform of a hollow, tubular sleeve constructed from a single, elongatedpiece of material folded lengthwise and secured together along theelongated edges and one end of the tube.

Malkoff, U.S. Pat. No. 6,193,063 provides a golf club protective coverwhich provides a semi-rigid upper enclosure to protect the club head anda sock-like lower enclosure attached to the upper enclosure forprotection of the club shaft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a sports equipment cover. Such sportsequipment cover includes an elongated housing for storing a piece ofsports equipment. The housing is manufactured from a predeterminedmaterial and has a predetermined size and a predetermined shape. Thehousing has an opening at a predetermined location thereon forpermitting insertion and removal of such piece of sports equipment. Afastening means is operably connected to the housing at a predeterminedlocation thereon adjacent to such opening for removably securing suchopening in a closed position.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention toprovide a protective covering for sports equipment such as golf clubsthat will keep such equipment dry during inclement weather.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a covering forsports equipment such as golf clubs that includes a transparent portionthereby enabling a user to quickly and easily find the desired piece ofsports equipment.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cover forsports equipment, such as a golf club, that is easy to use and islightweight.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a coveringmeans for individual items of sports equipment which will protect suchequipment during travel and storage.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a coveringmeans for individual golf clubs which takes up very little space therebyenabling a user to pack a plurality of covered golf clubs into a golfclub carrying device with ease.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide golf clubcovers that are thin and flexible and may be easily and compactly storedwhen not in use.

In addition to the various objects and advantages of the presentinvention described with some degree of specificity above it should beobvious that additional objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled inthe relevant art from the following more detailed description of theinvention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunctionwith the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to oneembodiment of the invention in which the invention includes a zippertype fastening means and a transparent window.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to oneembodiment of the invention in which a plurality of sports equipmentcovers have been placed on golf clubs and such golf clubs have beenplaced in a golf bag.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to oneembodiment of the invention in which the invention includes a zippertype fastening means and a transparent window and such invention isbeing used to house a golf club.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to oneembodiment of the invention in which the invention includes carryingcase.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to oneembodiment of the invention in which the invention includes indiciadisposed thereon.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to oneembodiment of the invention in which the housing is manufactured from atransparent material and a golf club is housed within the sportsequipment cover.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to oneembodiment of the invention in which a golf club is being inserted intothe housing through zippered opening.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to oneembodiment of the invention in which such invention includes indiciadisposed thereon and a zipper type fastening means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVEEMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the presentinvention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity andunderstanding, identical components which have identical functions havebeen identified with identical reference numerals throughout the severalviews illustrated in the drawing figures.

Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-8.

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, A sports equipment cover, generally designated10, is provided. Such sports equipment cover 10 includes an elongatedhousing 12 for storing a piece of sports equipment 14.

The housing 12 is manufactured from a predetermined material and has apredetermined size, a predetermined shape, and a predeterminedthickness.

It is presently preferred that such predetermined material is flexibleand waterproof. It is further presently preferred that suchpredetermined material is at least one of plastic, vinyl, canvas, andleather. It is presently most preferred that such predetermined materialis vinyl.

It is presently preferred that such predetermined shape is substantiallysimilar to a shape of at least one of a golf club 15, a hockey stick, abaseball bat, a softball bat, and a tennis racket.

It is presently preferred that the housing 12 includes at least onetransparent portion 16 operably connected thereto at a predeterminedlocation thereon for enabling a user to see at least a portion of apiece of sports equipment 14 housed within such sports equipment cover10.

The housing 12 further includes an opening 23 at a predeterminedlocation thereon for permitting insertion and removal of such piece ofsports equipment 14. It is presently preferred that such predeterminedlocation is located adjacent a first predetermined end 24 of the housing12.

It is further presently preferred that such first predetermined end 24is substantially wider than an opposite second predetermined end 26 ofthe housing 12 such that the first predetermined 24 end is capable ofhousing a head 28 of a golf club 15 in a substantially form fittingmanner and such opposite second predetermined end 26 is capable ofhousing a handle 34 of such golf club 15 in a substantially form fittingmanner.

A fastening means 36 is operably connected to the housing 12 at apredetermined location thereon adjacent to such opening 23 for removablysecuring such opening 23 in a closed position.

It is presently preferred that such fastening means 36 is at least oneof string, elastic, a zipper type fastening means 38, and a hook andloop type fastening means. It is presently most preferred that suchfastening means is a zipper type fastening means 38.

The opening and the fastening means may be located on the housing atvarious positions to facilitate the removal and covering of whichevertype sports equipment is to be housed within such device.

It is presently preferred that such sports equipment cover 10 weighsbetween about 2.0 ounces and 3.0 ounces.

Referring to FIG. 5, it is presently preferred that the housing 12includes indicia 42 disposed on the housing 12 at a predeterminedlocation thereon, such indicia 42 indicating predetermined informationrelating to at least one of such sports equipment and a user. It ispresently preferred that such indicia 42 includes at least one ofletters, words, figures, numbers, pictoral images, and shapes.

Referring to FIG. 4, it is presently preferred that such sportsequipment cover 10 further includes a carrying case 44 for storing aplurality of such sports equipment covers when such sports equipmentcovers are not being used to cover sports equipment.

Referring to FIG. 2, it is presently preferred that such predeterminedthickness of such housing is such that a predetermined plurality of golfclubs may be individually covered with such sports equipment covers andsuch plurality of covered golf clubs may be placed within a golf bag,all fitting within such golf bag with ease.

According to another embodiment of the invention, it is presentlypreferred that such predetermined material comprising the housing isplastic. In this embodiment is it presently most preferred that suchplastic is transparent. An embodiment of the invention in which thehousing is manufactured from a transparent material is illustrated inFIG. 6.

While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of thepresent invention have been described in sufficient detail above toenable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same itshould be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications canbe envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departingfrom either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A sports equipment cover comprising: a. an elongated housing forstoring a piece of sports equipment, said housing being manufacturedfrom a predetermined material and having a predetermined size, apredetermined shape, and a predetermined thickness, said housing furtherincluding an opening at a predetermined location thereon for permittinginsertion and removal of such piece of sports equipment; and b. afastening means operably connected to said housing at a predeterminedlocation thereon adjacent to said opening for removably securing saidopening in a closed position.
 2. A sports equipment cover according toclaim 1 wherein said predetermined shape is substantially similar to ashape of at least one of a golf club, a hockey stick, a baseball bat, asoftball bat, and a tennis racket.
 3. A sports equipment cover accordingto claim 1 wherein said predetermined location is located adjacent afirst predetermined end of said housing.
 4. A sports equipment coveraccording to claim 3 wherein said first predetermined end issubstantially wider than an opposite second predetermined end of saidhousing such that said first predetermined end is capable of housing ahead of a golf club in a substantially form fitting manner and saidopposite second predetermined end is capable of housing a handle of suchgolf club in a substantially form fitting manner.
 5. A sports equipmentcover according to claim 1 wherein said fastening means is at least oneof string, elastic, a zipper type fastening means, and a hook and looptype fastening means.
 6. A sports equipment cover according to claim 5wherein said fastening means is a zipper type fastening means.
 7. Asports equipment cover according to claim 1 wherein said predeterminedmaterial is at least one of plastic, vinyl, canvas, and leather.
 8. Asports equipment cover according to claim 7 wherein said predeterminedmaterial is vinyl.
 9. A sports equipment cover according to claim 1wherein said predetermined material is plastic.
 10. A sports equipmentcover according to claim 9 wherein said plastic is transparent.
 11. Asports equipment cover according to claim 1 wherein said housingincludes at least one transparent portion operably connected thereto ata predetermined location thereon for enabling a user to see at least aportion of at least one of an object and a piece of sports equipmenthoused within said sports equipment cover.
 12. A sports equipment coveraccording to claim 1 wherein said predetermined material is flexible.13. A sports equipment cover according to claim 1 wherein said housingincludes indicia disposed on said housing at a predetermined locationthereon, said indicia indicating predetermined information relating toat least one of such sports equipment and a user.
 14. A sports equipmentcover according to claim 13 wherein said indicia includes at least oneof letters, words, figures, numbers, pictoral images, and shapes.
 15. Asports equipment cover according to claim 1 wherein said predeterminedmaterial is waterproof.
 16. A sports equipment cover according to claim1 wherein said sports equipment cover further includes a carrying casefor storing a plurality of said sports equipment covers when said sportsequipment covers are not being used to cover sports equipment.
 17. Asports equipment cover according to claim 1 wherein said sportsequipment cover weighs between about 2.0 ounces and 3.0 ounces.